One Princess Serenity isn’t nearly enough to quell Ninth Royal Uncle’s fury. When it comes time to settle accounts, he won’t spare a single person who took part in this.
"Tell Imperial Physician Sun: I want Prince Terrence Valen’s injuries to worsen. If his wound can be split open again, all the better."
The best at suturing in Eastlyn is Serena Feng, but she’s been injured thanks to Princess Yara Valen’s scheming. Prince Terrence Valen will probably hate Princess Yara for this.
"Yes, sir."
"Leak the news to His Majesty that the Su Clan wants to help me take the throne."
You want to marry me? That depends on whether you’re even qualified. The Su Clan? I don’t take them seriously. Not wanting to offend doesn’t mean I can’t.
Su Wan, you like to fight with others, don’t you? I’ll grant your wish—go into the palace and spar with the Empress to your heart’s content.
"Yes, sir."
"Tell the Hsieh Clan that Noble Consort Helena Hsieh has been given fertility-blocking medicine by the Empress. Have them go to the top pharmacy in the realm to buy an antidote."
The Empress doesn’t want Noble Consort Helena Hsieh to bear a child, because she fears that if Helena gives birth to a prince, it’ll threaten Crown Prince Terrence Dongling’s position.
The more the Empress tries to prevent it, the more he insists on sending them all her way.
One woman isn’t enough—let’s add a high-born prince to the mix.
"Yes, sir."
"Find a way to quietly let Dominic Zhai know about the suspicious circumstances of his parents’ deaths." This time, His Majesty has truly infuriated him—none of these people will get away unscathed.
"Yes, sir."
After giving his orders, Nolan Dongling’s black-clad agent waved a hand: "Dismissed."
"Yes, sir."
"Wait." The black-clad agent turned to leave, but Nolan Dongling called him back—he’d nearly forgotten something important.
"Help the Empress have Princess Yara Valen betrothed to Dongling Zichun."
Dream on if you want to marry Prince Rowan, Princess Yara Valen. The more she wants it, the less Nolan Dongling will let her have her way.
If you come to Eastlyn, you must obey Eastlyn’s rules.
"Yes, sir."
When an emperor rages, the battlefield is littered with corpses; but when Ninth Royal Uncle is angry, marriages turn into battlegrounds—no one finds peace.
Once the black-clad agent left, Ninth Royal Uncle vanished from his study as well.
There was still one more matter—this one had to be decided by Serena Feng.
Feng Manor.
For the first time, Nolan Dongling entered Feng Manor at night without announcement. He knocked out the night-watch guards and maids, then pushed open the door and walked in.
Under the bright red quilt, Serena Feng’s face looked even paler. That sickly, fragile appearance tugged at the heart.
Nolan Dongling sat at her bedside, gently tucking her stray hair behind her ear. "With injuries like this, I really don’t know whether to call you clever or foolish."
"Why are you so stubborn? Couldn’t you have just yielded a little during the day?" If Serena Feng had refused, he definitely would have stepped in for her.
"Why don’t you trust me? Didn’t I give you the jade token? If I give it to you, you need to learn how to use it. I’m not afraid of trouble—so what are you afraid of?"
This year, Nolan Dongling had spoken more than ever before.
"You’re badly hurt, but you keep acting like nothing’s wrong and go on taming horses. You really know how to put on a show." Nolan Dongling tucked Serena Feng’s quilt for her.
"And now you’re pretending to be asleep again—do you really not want to see me?" Nolan Dongling leaned down, whispering into Serena Feng’s ear.
Warm breath lingered around her neck, and the scent of bamboo leaves filled her nose. As Ninth Royal Uncle leaned in, Serena Feng felt a powerful pressure descend—her breathing instantly went haywire, so she pressed her lips together and kept her eyes tightly shut.
When the pressure finally lifted, Serena Feng breathed a silent sigh of relief. She couldn’t put her feelings into words; it was easier to ignore them than to try calming her heart after Ninth Royal Uncle’s arrival.
It wasn’t that she was especially alert; it was just that the pain in her body made it impossible to sleep.
The Snow-Lotus Hundred-Flower Ointment could numb the pain at her wound, but her lungs and heart were injured, and she’d broken bones when she fell from the horse. Though they’d been set, tonight the pain was unbearable.
She didn’t want Simon Sun to worry, so she pretended to be asleep.
"Since you’re awake, open your eyes." Nolan Dongling sat up straight, but his hands still held onto the corner of Serena Feng’s quilt.
Once the pressure disappeared, Serena Feng let out a silent sigh of relief. She couldn’t quite name the feeling—it was easier to ignore it than to calm her heart after Ninth Royal Uncle’s arrival.
Serena Feng opened her eyes, her voice steady but distant. "Ninth Royal Uncle."
"What’s wrong? Are you blaming me?" Nolan Dongling’s brows began to knit—Serena Feng had never looked at him with such cold, distant eyes before.
Serena Feng shook her head. She’d never had any expectations, so where would blame even come from?
"You’re lying." Looking at Serena Feng’s bloodless face, Nolan Dongling was displeased. He reached out and pinched her cheek.
"Ouch." Ninth Royal Uncle hadn’t held back at all. Serena Feng’s cheek turned red from the pinch, with two clear finger marks left behind.
Serena Feng had no strength to argue with Nolan Dongling, and she didn’t want this strange, ambiguous intimacy to linger. She changed the subject: "May I ask, Ninth Royal Uncle, what brings you here at this hour?"
Serena Feng had no energy to argue with Nolan Dongling, nor did she want this inexplicable intimacy to continue. She changed the subject: "May I ask what brings Ninth Royal Uncle here so late at night?"
"If someone shows up at the temple for no reason, it's always Nolan Dongling." (In other words, he never visits without an agenda.)
"What do you plan to do with those two horses?" This was Serena Feng’s matter to decide—their fate was in her hands.
"Horses?" Serena Feng looked at Ninth Royal Uncle in confusion. He’d come to her room in the middle of the night just to ask about two horses? "Deal with them? Didn’t I already present them to His Majesty?"
Wasn’t it the horses His Majesty wanted? She’d already given them up—what else was there to do?
"You gave them up unwillingly."
"Ha…" Serena Feng laughed. "Unwillingly? There are plenty of things I do unwillingly, but I still do them. What does it matter whether I’m willing or not—the result’s already decided."
Nolan Dongling shook his head. "If you’re willing, the outcome can change at any time."
"Really? So I can have those two horses back?" Serena Feng’s tone grew sharper—she didn’t know if it was Nolan Dongling’s indulgence or her own pent-up anger.
The humiliation she’d suffered during the day was no less than on her wedding day. If she hadn’t reacted quickly, she would have been stripped naked in front of everyone—how could she have survived in the capital, faced the world?
Seeing Ninth Royal Uncle now reminded her of everything from earlier. That man had sat coldly on the dais, watching her disgrace and injury with indifferent eyes.
Serena Feng laughed, a bitter sound. "Unwillingly? There are plenty of things I do against my will, but I do them anyway. What difference does it make? The outcome is already set."
"You can." Nolan Dongling didn’t hesitate, as if he were the emperor himself and his word was law.
"Then I want them to appear at Feng Manor tomorrow morning. I want to own them openly and honorably." Serena Feng deliberately made things difficult.
"Alright."
Serena Feng’s tone sharpened. "Really? So I can have those two horses back?" She couldn’t tell if it was Nolan Dongling’s indulgence or her own anger pushing her.
"What do you mean, why?" Nolan Dongling was baffled—he’d done exactly as Serena Feng asked. Wasn’t that enough?
But his happiness doesn’t mean I’m happy. Ninth Royal Uncle’s words make me want to throttle him...
Cough, cough… Nolan Dongling thought he was trying to please Serena Feng, even if she couldn’t feel it at all.
Happy?
So when you’re happy, you treat me well; when you’re not, you toss me aside!
What am I to you? What am I really, Serena Feng—a toy for you to play with?
Serena bit her lip, forcing herself not to scream.
Happy?
When you’re happy, you treat me well. When you’re not, you kick me away!
What am I in your eyes? What exactly am I, Serena Feng? Just a toy?
Serena Feng bit her lip, refusing to let herself scream.
The man standing before her was Ninth Royal Uncle—second only to the emperor in Eastlyn, towering above everyone else, untouchable and exalted. He was not someone she could scream at, no matter how badly she wanted to.